Bridgewater Police chief returns home after 10 weeks at FBI National Academy

Saturday

Jun 21, 2014 at 6:00 AMJun 22, 2014 at 8:57 PM

Delmonte was one of 220 law enforcement officials in his session from 46 states and 17 countries including Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Australia.

Benjamin Paulin The Patriot Ledger @BPaulin_Ledger

BRIDGEWATER – Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte is back.The chief left his family and post for 10 weeks to study at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.

He was one of 220 law enforcement officials in his session to do so. They came from 46 states and 17 countrie,s including Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Australia.

He came back this week with insight, new training, new connections with colleagues around the world and plenty of stories.

“It’s good to be home,” Delmonte said. “I’m very grateful for the experience. I’m better for it and I’m glad I had the opportunity.”

The academy is offered to law enforcement officials in the U.S. and internationally “to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge and cooperation worldwide,” according to the FBI National Academy website.

Delmonte said he took classes ranging from those that improved leadership skills to being introduced to the latest in forensic science.

In addition to classes, he also participated in fitness challenges each week, which culminated in the final challenge known as the “Yellow Brick Road.”

The Yellow Brick Road is a 6.1-mile trek through hilly terrain, where you must run and jump through simulated windows, climb over walls, scale rock faces and crawl under barbed wire through mud. The course was designed and built by the Marines.

It got its name because yellow bricks were used to mark the way through the wooded trails when it was first built.

Delmonte’s first day back was Wednesday and he said he was pleased with how his department performed in his absence.

“The credit really goes to the people that were here,” he said. “They did an outstanding job maintaining the services that we provide.”